First Love | James Hetfield

Don't Kiss And Tell

September 1983

Annie grumbled a curse word as the hamburger patties on the grill began to burn. "Shit." She crouched a bit to turn the knobs off, then when she stood upright again she noticed the plastic spatula melting, dripping onto the patties.

"What the fuck?!" She hissed, pulling the spatula away and tossing it on the ground. Out of panic she tried to scoop the melted goo off the patties with her bare hands, only to burn her fingers.

"Damn it!" She sucked in air through her teeth, moving to the sliding door and opening it to shout into the house. "Can somebody help?! I burnt the fucking spatula!"

"You mean the patties?" Lars chuckled from his spot on top of the kitchen counter.

"No, I mean the spatula! I burnt the fucking spatula! And my hand!" Annie stared at him with wide eyes. James found humor in the situation before she mentioned burning her hand, and he stood up quickly.

"How do you manage to burn a spatula?" Lars asked through his laughter, only to be silenced by a flick on the chin from James as he walked by.

"I don't know! I'm sorry!" She moved aside as James came out. Lars followed and laughed loudly at the charred meat. "They look like hockey pucks!"

She furrowed her brows at the weird description but stood back, holding her wrist tightly as Lars closed off the propane tank and ran back inside to retrieve a metal spatula.

James looked at Annie then down to her hand, debating whether or not he should help her. He knew how Annie could occasionally snap and tell him to fuck off when she was drunk and panicking or she'd cry and apologize profusely, then eventually vomit her guts out. And because he didn't know if they were on speaking terms yet.

Lars came back out, face still red from laughter and slight intoxication. "Why'd you use a plastic spatula?" He kept pestering her.

"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't know it would melt, I'm sorry!" Annie stomped her foot down on the wooden deck as her eyes filled with tears.

Oh god... James thought. Not this again...

He sighed and pushed past Lars to approach Annie. "It's fine. Don't cry because you're gonna vomit, okay? And I don't think Bea would appreciate you blowing chunks all over the house- and frankly, I wouldn't either, so come on, and I'll clean you up." James said firmly as he placed a hand around Annie's arm and walked her inside, leading her toward the bathroom that held all the first aid supplies.

"I didn't know it was gonna burn, I didn't know it was gonna melt..." Annie mumbled as tears streamed down her face. James fought the urge to roll his eyes at the usual drunken cycle she'd go through.

"It's fine, alright? Sit on the counter." He gestured to the sink countertop and Annie hopped up with a bit of struggle.

James took out a bunch of random items from the cupboard below then began shuffling through the medicine cabinet for something to ease the burn.

He found a bottle of honey and chuckled a bit. "My mom used to use this stuff." He thought out loud, assuming Annie wasn't paying attention.

Annie's mouth fell open. "Oh my god." She only began crying even more. "Thats so sad... or sweet, or cute..." she rambled drunkenly.